Historic Delray train depot reopens as new entity after fire nearly destroyed it in 2020

DELRAY BEACH — In February 2020, the city's historic train station was nearly destroyed by a fire . It reopened this month after undergoing a comprehensive renovation project.

The Delray Beach Train Depot, on Depot Avenue just west of Interstate 95, was set on fire by four teenagers in 2020, police at the time said. The 94-year-old train station had been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986.

On Nov. 8, city officials reopened the station, this time as the city's new Human Resources and Employee Wellness Center. The building's restoration, though, was aimed at preserving its historical significance.

The train station was built in 1927 as part of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. It was designed by Gustav Maass , an American architect who worked primarily in the Mediterranean Revival style in the Palm Beach area, and became known for just that — its Mediterranean Revival architecture.

After servicing Seaboard routes, the station serviced Amtrak passengers starting in 1971, and Tri-Rail commuters later in 1989. Passenger service continued at the station until 1995, when both Amtrak and Tri-Rail passengers switched to using the Tri-Rail's new Delray Beach station a few blocks south as their Delray Beach stop.

Delray Beach train station renovation was a $2.6 million project In 2005, the city purchased the station for $1.6 million. About a year after the station's 2020 fire, the city approved a $2.6 million plan in January 2021 to fully restore the building.

At the time, the city had a $1.8 million insurance claim, and commissioners authorized Public Works Director Missie Barletto to proceed with plans to relocate the city's Human Resources and Wellness Center into the renovated building. City officials had also considered turning the space into a library, a food hall, an adult education facility, a green market and/or an indoor sports facility.

Renovated Delray Beach landmark will save city thousands of dollars Ultimately, commissioners decided that relocating the city's employee wellness center from Northeast Third Avenue would save the city $53,000 per year in rent. At the center, employees obtain prescriptions, physicals and some medical care. According to a chart Barletto presented to the commission, the project would come close to paying for itself within 12 years. Public Works committed $209,000 to the project, Barletto said.

"This station holds a special place in our city's history, serving as a link to Delray Beach's growth and development," Barletto said. "This restoration is a testament to our commitment to preserving our city's unique cultural landmarks while looking toward a bright future."

Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at . Help support our work. Subscribe today .